UV-C light is a non-thermal technology with potential application in food industries. The objective was to assess UV-C radiation effect (13.44 W/m2) on microbiological decontamination and some ...quality characteristics of Cantaloupe melon juice, during refrigerated storage.
Juice was inoculated with Listeria innocua (non-pathogenic surrogate of L. monocytogenes) and Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores (spoilage indicators) used as indicators of the UV-C treatment efficacy. Total mesophylls and yeasts and molds were also enumerated. Results demonstrated that 5 min of exposure allowed 3.7 ± 0.3 log10 cycles reduction of L. innocua, while for A. acidoterrestris, 20 min were required to decrease 4.7 ± 0.1 log10 cycles.
At the end of refrigerated storage for 13 days, UV-C treated juices retained color, total phenolics content and antioxidant activity, and yeast and molds did not grow.
Since UV-C process was effective on microbial inactivation and allowed juice quality maintenance, it can be considered as a promising alternative to thermal pasteurization.
•A UV-C radiation dose of 4032 J/m2 allowed reducing 3.7 log cycles of L. innocua.•A. acidoterrestris reduced 4.7 log cycles with 16128 J/m2 of UV-C radiation.•During storage, treated juices retained color, phenolics and antioxidant activity.•UV-C light can be considered a promising technology to pasteurize fruit juices.
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